Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Georgia Knew About PFAS In Water Near Carpet Mills But Didn't Warn Residents, Investigation Finds
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and AP: Investigation Finds Georgia Knew Carpet Mill Chemicals Were Polluting Local Water
Even without federal limits on chemicals like PFAS, states have the authority to protect public health and the environment. Instead, Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division did little to confront the problem, issuing neither fish advisories nor do-not-drink orders to the public even as concerns grew among scientists and federal regulators about the dangers of PFAS, an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Associated Press and FRONTLINE (PBS) has found. (Jackson, Dearen and Price, 5/6)
In other health news from across the U.S. —
ProPublica: NY AG Investigating Columbia's Role In OB-GYN Robert Hadden's Abuse Of Patients
The New York State attorney general’s office has begun investigating how Columbia University let a predatory doctor continue to see patients despite decades of warnings. “The Office of the Attorney General is conducting a thorough investigation into the institutional response to Robert Hadden’s misconduct,” a spokesperson said in a statement to ProPublica. The agency did not give further details. (Fortis, 5/6)
Concord Monitor: NH To Get Nearly $30 Million From Purdue Pharma In Opioid Settlement
New Hampshire will receive more than $29.5 million from Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family as a nationwide settlement goes into effect. That money will support prevention, treatment and recovery efforts for those dealing with substance use. State officials expect a little more than half, $16.2 million, to be disbursed over the next three years. (Matherly, 5/6)
Concord Monitor: NH Medical Marijuana Program Added 2,100 New Patients Last Year
More than 2,100 new patients signed up with New Hampshire’s Therapeutic Cannabis Program last year, bringing the total registry to nearly 17,000, according to new state data. That increase — about 14.5% from the year prior — is the largest since 2021. (Matherly, 5/6)
The New York Times: 5 Takeaways From The Last Televised California Governor Debate
Candidates debated housing and insurance policy in the first half, then furiously attacked one another at the end. The two Republicans, Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, and Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff, have teamed up to attack Democrats but have not differentiated themselves much from each other on policy. They were joined by a crowd of Democrats: Xavier Becerra, a former California attorney general and cabinet secretary under President Joseph R. Biden Jr.; Tom Steyer, a former hedge fund manager; Katie Porter, a former congresswoman; Matt Mahan, the mayor of San Jose, Calif.; and Antonio Villaraigosa, a former mayor of Los Angeles. (Karlamangla and Rosenhall, 5/7)
North Carolina Health News: NC Disability Advocates Urge Medicaid Funding, More Waiver Slots
Kay McMillan is a young woman in her early 30s who graduated summa cum laude at NC State and now runs her own nonprofit combining her two passions — disability rights and teaching youth leadership skills. She lives in a Cary townhouse with two housemates she calls her “Monica” and “Rachel” after characters in the hit ’90s sitcom Friends. (Fredde, 5/7)
The Baltimore Sun: Somerset Debates 5-Year Whole Blood Grant For EMS Over Cost
A grant-funded plan to put whole blood on Somerset County ambulances has run into local resistance, with county officials warning it could become another state-backed program that leaves local taxpayers holding the bag when the grant runs out. (Davis, 5/7)
The Colorado Sun: Mesa County Says State Stiffed It $1.3 Million For Mental Health
Mesa County claims in a new lawsuit that the state Behavioral Health Administration shorted the county $1.3 million in grant funds that were supposed to pay for mental health services, including a co-responder program that paired clinicians with law enforcement. (Brown, 5/6)
CBS News: Philadelphia Church Leaders Encourage Black Women To Participate In Health Research This Mother's Day
Philadelphia church leaders are hoping to get the word out this Mother's Day about an important research project called Voices of Black Women. This is a sweeping research project to determine why Black women have such high cancer rates. Church and community leaders met recently at Enon Tabernacle Church, aiming to reverse a deadly trend of Black women having higher rates of cancer. They're joining forces to be part of the American Cancer Society's groundbreaking research project called Voices of Black Women. (Stahl and Kuhn, 5/6)
In recalls —
Delish: Over 60,000 Cartons Of Milk Recalled In 4 States
A voluntary Class II recall affects Horizon Organic Chocolate Organic Lowfat Milk, distributed in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Oregon. Over 3,500 cases, each containing 18 8-ounce cartons, are the subject of the recall and are being pulled from store shelves. That’s over 60,000 cartons total. The reason for the recall? “Package integrity compromised,” according to the report. (Mactas, 5/6)
ABC News: What To Know About Recalled Potato Chips Sold Nationwide
Multiple flavors of two popular potato chip brands have been recalled due to possible salmonella contamination. Utz Quality Foods announced Tuesday that it has issued a voluntary national recall of certain limited varieties of Zapp’s and Dirty potato chips after the company received a notification "that a seasoning containing dry milk powder" from an outside source and supplied by a third-party supplier "may contain the presence of Salmonella." (McCarthy, 5/6)
